Borgstrom, winner of outstanding performance by an actress in a leading role, said she clenched it in her fist so tight during nominations that it snapped. Still, Borgstrom wore the silver rhinestone gun on a long chain to the award ceremony.

Phillipsburg High School senior Loretta Doyle won the
Freddy for outstanding performance by a featured dancer for her role as Ti Moune in "Once on This Island." She shared the honor with Notre Dame's Michael Guerriere.

Phillipsburg, which was nominated for eight awards, also garnered a Freddy for outstanding performance by an orchestra.

Doyle, who was also nominated for outstanding featured performance by an actress, described her experience at the Freddy Awards as amazing.

"Everyone is so professional, but so nice and sweet at the same time," she said. "It's like one great big family."

Brian Mulligan, of North Warren Regional High School, won a Freddy for outstanding supporting actor for his performance as Moonface Martin in "Anything Goes."

"I can't put it into words, (I'm) overwhelmed," he said. "I'm so happy and I think I ran out of words during my speech."

Shane Fischetti, a senior at Warren County Technical School, was nominated for a best featured male ensemble member for his double role in the as Cinderella's
Prince/Wolf in "Into The Woods." But Fischetti's double role wasn't planned.

"Four days before the show opened, I filled in for (the original Wolf)," Fischetti said.

He said all the madness was worth it to be at the Freddys.

"Honestly, it makes you feel like the work you've done has paid off," Fischetti said.

The work didn't stop for students after closing nights across the region. Each school selected four students to perform in the
larger-than-life Freddys opening number. Two weeks of rehearsals took place
during the evening, often after a long school day for students.

"I would do homework, go to rehearsal, do more homework and go straight to bed," said Chloe Musselman, a Whitehall High School senior.

The opening number rehearsals serve as a reunion for friends made
during the Freddys, Salisbury High School senior Alan Mendez said.

"It's
fun to see familiar faces," he said. "One of the things I love is
the building up of networks and friendships through the Freddys, because
that's basically what the (theater) business is."

For Moravian Academy senior Evan Richter, the Freddys run in the family. Richter, who was nominated for best featured male ensemble member, said his sister, Gillian, was nominated for a Freddy for the same show in 2002, "The Mystery of Edwin Drood."

"Since freshman year, I always said my goal in high school as an actor was to get nominated for a Freddy," said Richter, who played Nick Criker/Durdles.

The Freddy Awards ceremony is named for former State Theatre manager Fred Osterstock, whose spirit is believed to still remain inside of the theater. Thirty schools competed for awards in 21 categories. The Freddys recognize the best in local high school musical productions.